Leaving Hell is not a difficult task.
Actually, let me rephrase that—leaving Hell is not difficult for me.
However, it required a bit of preparation.
"…Are you truly planning to leave them like that?"
I nodded at Hozuki's question as I tossed the 320th sinner into the crater.
The sinner, still unconscious, melted into the magma and lost their form instantly.
"It's better than letting them cause trouble while I'm gone for a bit. Or what? You want to jump in there and fish them out yourself?"
"…."
Hozuki looked at me, seemingly lost in thought, then peered down into the crater and leaped without a second's hesitation.
…?
"No—hey! You crazy bastard!!"
I snatched him out of the air immediately, preventing the disaster, but I felt like my own heart had dropped into the depths instead.
At this point, it's just terrifying. What the hell is wrong with….
"It was just a figure of speech! Did you really think I wanted you to jump in!?"
"I believed my Spiritual Power was sufficient to handle it."
"Ugh!! Dammit, you absolute lunatic!!"
You just can't reason with him! F*ck!
Why did a guy like this have to crawl into Hell…!!
I pounded my chest in frustration before scratching my head vigorously.
"You don't need to save them. When those fallen to Hell revive, they only do so when the circumstances are 'right' for revival."
"…What does that mean?"
"It means as long as they're inside that crater, they won't be coming back to life."
"I see…. That is a relief."
Relief my ass….
Staying with this guy feels like it's shaving years off my lifespan.
"Anyway, I'm heading up for a bit. Don't go fishing those things out and complicating my life; just go rest at my place."
"Understood."
"I'll check when I get back. If even one of them is missing, I'm putting them under your charge and making you responsible for their 'rehabilitation.'"
"I shall keep that in mind."
"Unbelievable."
He really is something else.
The image of Kagaya flickered in my mind, making my lip twitch. I let out a long sigh and turned away.
After moving a significant distance from the volcano, I faced the empty void and began to loosen up.
It was something I had only theorized about and never actually attempted, so I wasn't sure if it would work, but I had to try.
'If the hole is too big, it'll be chaos…. I need to do this as gently as possible….'
I took a stance and extended my arm toward the air, palm open.
"Deep breath…."
I inhaled deeply, planting my feet firmly into the ground, feeling the energy connect from my toes to my fingertips as one….
"Hah!"
I clenched my extended hand into a fist and struck the void.
It was Cun Jing—the One-Inch Punch I had mastered as a byproduct of performing my 10,000 Gratitude Straight Punches.
CRACK――!!
"It worked."
As if glass were shattering, a massive fissure split the void, revealing the landscape on the other side.
It wasn't the crimson sky that made you feel like you were losing your soul just by looking at it, but a blue sky so vivid it made my eyes sting.
It was the sky of the Three Worlds—not that I particularly missed it.
Walking out of Hell, I looked up and immediately scowled.
"…Ugh, too bright, f*ck."
I felt like I'd just been hit with a flashbang.
Massaging my throbbing eyelids, I spread my senses out in all directions.
――….
Like a single drop of water creating ripples in a still lake, my perception expanded outward with me at the center.
When I opened my eyes again, a map of the world's changes over the years filled my mind.
"I guess they haven't been slacking off for the last thousand years."
I let out a smirk and began walking leisurely toward the Shiba Clan's territory.
By the way, this is the Soul Society. The World of the Living? They're probably still holding rocks and going 'ooga booga.'
In contrast, the Soul Society had undergone impressive development.
From simple wooden houses to tiled roof dwellings made of stone and timber.
"Wait, I'm the one who taught them how to do this."
Well, to be precise, I gave them the concept and that Tsunayashiro bastard added the details, but it was my idea nonetheless.
In the World of the Living, cavemen are cheering over fire, while over here, they're building wooden estates….
"Quite a contrast."
Prometheus himself might tilt his head and wonder, 'Did I give them too much of a head start?'
But considering the Soul Society looked roughly like this in the original story anyway, maybe it's fine.
—Wahaha! I got it!
—Hey! Get back here!!
"It is peaceful, at least."
I took a casual look around before sprinting toward the Shiba estate in a single bound.
There were markets and crowds of people, but I wasn't interested, so I ignored them all and ran on.
When I finally arrived at the Shiba Clan, the place was packed with people dressed in black mourning clothes.
They weren't wearing Shihakusho—meaning they weren't Soul Reapers yet, just mourners.
It might be insensitive to say this when someone's died, but….
Man, it is crowded.
"He must have been quite popular."
Well, with a personality like his, it makes sense.
I chuckled and walked toward the entrance when a middle-aged man in mourning clothes blocked my path.
"Have you come to pay your respects to Lord Hozuki?"
Why would I pay my respects to that lunatic? The guy is perfectly ali… well, not alive.
Spending too much time in Hell almost made me forget the technicalities.
I scratched my head and nodded.
The man gave a bitter smile and bowed his head politely.
"You look like you've traveled quite a distance. Thank you for coming all this way to a foreign land to pay your respects. Please, could you sign the guest registry here?"
"Sure. Here?"
"…?"
The man looked at me with an expression that said, 'Where did this disrespectful brat come from?'
Of course, I'm far too old to get angry over something like that, so I just ignored it.
"I asked if I should sign here."
"Ah, yes."
"Ah, hold on."
I paused with the brush in my hand before signing.
What was that name those bastards came up with for me? Was it Shimon Meio (師文 明王) or Shimon Meio (死門 冥王)…?
If I had known, I would've asked them to write it down instead of just telling me verbally.
I never planned on using the name and didn't think it would be useful, so I hadn't bothered to ask for the specifics.
"Is something the matter?"
"I'm trying to remember the name. Just a second."
Since they saw me entering Hell, they probably went with the 'Nether King' (冥王) version, right?
It isn't really my name, but I can't exactly write 'The Soul King's Friend Stopped By,' so I just wrote 'Nether King' for now.
"Done."
I scribbled it down and set the brush aside.
Damn, even I can tell my handwriting is garbage. I can barely read it myself. I should stick to not writing things in the future.
"Well, I'm going in."
I was about to head inside to find Shiryu and talk about Hozuki when someone grabbed my shoulder.
"…You."
"Me?"
"You… you madman! How dare you!! Did you come here specifically to mock Lord Hozuki!?"
What the hell? Why is he so pissed?
I frowned at the man, whose eyes were bloodshot with rage.
"What's the problem?"
"What's the problem!? You dare speak such nonsense! Look at this!!"
Shimon Meio (死門 冥王)
"I'm asking what's the problem."
"You're asking…?"
He told me to write my name, so I did. Why is he throwing a fit?
If you have a problem with my name, go complain to your ancestors, don't take it out on me.
"If you have eyes, look for yourself! Everyone gathered here is in mourning over Lord Hozuki's passing!!"
"I can see that. Everyone's in black."
"In a place where everyone is grieving for a man who was kind and warm to all, you write 'Nether King'…!? 'King of Hell'!!? Don't make me laugh!! Are you saying the Young Lord fell to Hell!? Or did you come here to curse him to go there!!?"
He actually is in Hell, though.
Realizing he wouldn't listen even if I told him, I scratched my eyebrow.
"Hmm."
"Furthermore, to mock the name of the ancestor of another of the Five Great Noble Houses, Shimon Meio (師文 明王), in such a lowly manner!?"
Oh, so that was the kanji for the title 'Meio'?
I didn't know that.
"If you have a mouth, say something!!"
"I have nothing to say to you."
"How dare you try to step inside with your filthy feet!!"
"Shiba Shiryu is here, isn't he? I already know he's inside, so let go."
"To call the Ancestor's name so flippantly…! You are truly insane!! If you do not withdraw immediately, I will stop using words!!"
The man shouted, flaring his Spiritual Power.
He seemed to have some standing, as the other mourners nearby turned pale the moment his energy surged.
Was it called Spiritual Pressure?
"I didn't come here to cause a scene, so just take it easy—"
BOOM――!!
CRASH――
Before I could even finish my sentence, his fist flew out and struck me right in the face.
Of course, it didn't hurt, and I didn't even budge.
"…Sigh."
I let out a heavy sigh as a commotion broke out all around.
—Eeeeek!!
—What!? What happened!?
—Uncle Kairyu punched someone!
—No! That guy insulted Lord Hozuki first!!
"It seems you have just enough skill to pull off such a lowly stunt!! But no more――!!"
"――Enough."
"Gah…!?"
The moment a familiar Spiritual Power was felt, Kairyu—the man who had been screaming—fell to his knees.
It was a masterfully precise display of technique, concentrating Spiritual Power into a single point to crush him with Spiritual Pressure without affecting anyone else in the vicinity.
"What is this ruckus on the day we mourn a child of our house…. Child…. Wait…."
"It's been a long time, Shiba Shiryu."
"Heugh…!!"
I guess he isn't so senile that he's forgotten my face. That's a relief.
I smirked as I looked at the now ancient, withered Shiba Shiryu.